- A
Scanning dependencies for known vulnerabilities in the CI pipeline
Dependency scanning early prevents vulnerable libraries from being used.
- B
Scanning container images after they are deployed to production
Why wrong: Post-deployment scanning is reactive, not shift-left.
- C
Running DAST against the production environment
Why wrong: DAST in production is later in the lifecycle; earlier is better.
- D
Running IaC security scanning on Terraform templates before deployment
IaC scanning catches misconfigurations early.
- E
Performing SAST scans in the IDE or during pull requests
SAST at coding time is a classic shift-left practice.
Question 281 of 1,000
CCSP Cloud Application Security Practice Question
This CCSP practice question tests your understanding of cloud application security. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A cloud security architect is designing a DevSecOps pipeline for a multi-cloud environment. Which THREE practices should be included to ensure security is integrated early? (Select THREE)
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Scanning dependencies for known vulnerabilities in the CI pipeline
Option A is correct because scanning dependencies for known vulnerabilities (e.g., using OWASP Dependency-Check or Snyk) in the CI pipeline catches vulnerable libraries before they are built into artifacts. This is a 'shift-left' practice that prevents insecure components from reaching later stages, aligning with DevSecOps principles of early security integration.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Scanning dependencies for known vulnerabilities in the CI pipeline
Why this is correct
Dependency scanning early prevents vulnerable libraries from being used.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Scanning container images after they are deployed to production
Why it's wrong here
Post-deployment scanning is reactive, not shift-left.
- ✗
Running DAST against the production environment
Why it's wrong here
DAST in production is later in the lifecycle; earlier is better.
- ✓
Running IaC security scanning on Terraform templates before deployment
Why this is correct
IaC scanning catches misconfigurations early.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Performing SAST scans in the IDE or during pull requests
Why this is correct
SAST at coding time is a classic shift-left practice.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the concept of 'shift-left' by including late-stage security activities (like post-deployment scanning or production DAST) as distractors, tempting candidates who confuse 'security testing' with 'early integration'.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, SAST (Static Application Security Testing) analyzes source code without execution, using abstract syntax trees (ASTs) and data-flow analysis to detect flaws like SQL injection or buffer overflows. In a DevSecOps pipeline, SAST integrated into pull requests (e.g., via GitHub Actions with CodeQL) provides immediate feedback to developers, preventing vulnerabilities from merging into the main branch. Real-world scenarios, such as the 2021 Codecov breach, highlight how early scanning of IaC templates (e.g., with Checkov or tfsec) can prevent misconfigurations like open S3 buckets or overly permissive IAM roles.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A security team runs a vulnerability scan on a web application and discovers an unpatched SQL injection flaw. The team prioritises remediation by CVSS score — critical flaws are patched within 24 hours, high within 7 days. Questions like this test whether you understand vulnerability management processes, scanning tools, and remediation prioritisation.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this CCSP question test?
Cloud Application Security — This question tests Cloud Application Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Scanning dependencies for known vulnerabilities in the CI pipeline — Option A is correct because scanning dependencies for known vulnerabilities (e.g., using OWASP Dependency-Check or Snyk) in the CI pipeline catches vulnerable libraries before they are built into artifacts. This is a 'shift-left' practice that prevents insecure components from reaching later stages, aligning with DevSecOps principles of early security integration.
What should I do if I get this CCSP question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
This CCSP practice question is part of Courseiva's free ISC2 certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the CCSP exam.
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